Pentagon Officials Alarmed as U.S. Unleashes Hundreds of Tomahawk Missiles on Iran
More than 850 Tomahawks have been fired in just four weeks, people familiar with the matter said, alarming some Pentagon officials because the weapon’s supply is limited.
U.S. uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon
The United States military has fired more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles at targets in Iran over the past four weeks, according to people familiar with the matter, a staggering rate of consumption that has raised serious concerns among some Pentagon officials about the long-term sustainability of the nation's weapons stockpiles. The precision-guided missiles, which cost approximately $2 million each, have been launched primarily from Navy destroyers and submarines positioned in the region as part of the ongoing military campaign.
The pace of Tomahawk usage far exceeds that of any previous U.S. military operation in recent memory. By comparison, the United States fired roughly 800 Tomahawks during the entire first month of the 2003 Iraq invasion, a campaign that involved a far broader coalition effort. Defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the current rate of fire has prompted internal warnings that the military could face critical shortages of the weapon if the conflict expands or persists, particularly given that production capacity for the missiles is limited and cannot be quickly scaled up.
Some senior Pentagon officials have privately expressed alarm, noting that the Tomahawk inventory is a finite resource that plays a central role in U.S. war planning across multiple theaters, including potential contingencies involving China and Russia. Replacing the missiles that have already been expended could take years given current manufacturing timelines at producer RTX, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies. Congressional defense leaders have also begun asking pointed questions about the stockpile drawdown and whether adequate reserves remain to address other global threats.
The White House and Department of Defense have defended the operational tempo, stating that the strikes have been effective in degrading Iranian military infrastructure and that weapons availability remains sufficient to meet current mission requirements. Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on specific inventory figures, citing operational security. However, the debate over missile consumption underscores a broader tension within the national security establishment between the immediate demands of the Iran campaign and the need to maintain readiness for other potential conflicts around the world.